On Saturday, July 4, Metrorail will run from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m., and operate near rush-hour level service from 4 p.m. to midnight. Trains will run on their usual routes on all five rail lines and the Smithsonian Metrorail station will be open, a change from previous years. Additionally, free parking will be available for nearly 60,000 automobiles at Metro-owned facilities. Red Line trains will be back to their normal speeds.

“I want to reassure everyone that we have been planning and preparing to provide safe and reliable service on July 4,” said Metro General Manager John Catoe. “With safety on the minds of everyone, we are ready to welcome several hundred thousand people into the Metrorail system and will do so in a safe and efficient manner.”

Metro officials expect to provide about 500,000 rail trips system wide and expect crowded conditions on trains leading up to the scheduled 9:10 p.m. fireworks show at the Mall. “We expect that our stations, trains and buses will be crowded as people head to see the fireworks, and we expect to see even tighter conditions afterward,” said Gerald C. Francis, Metro’s Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. Catoe said. “People should expect to be waiting in long lines to get back into Metro stations after the fireworks, perhaps for a half hour or more. To avoid waiting in long lines particularly at the Smithsonian Metrorail station, people should use other nearby stations for entry on the way home.”

In addition, due to July 4th holiday weekend, there will be no scheduled weekend track maintenance.

Metrorail Service on Saturday July 4

Metrorail will open at 7 a.m. and close at 3 a.m. At 4 p.m., Metro will ramp up rail service leading up to the fireworks display on the National Mall. All trains will depart every eight minutes from the end of each rail line, and every four minutes in the downtown portion of Washington, DC. Parking will be free at all Metrorail parking facilities.

Attendees should consider using any of several stations to the get to The Mall, including Farragut North, Federal Center SW, Capitol South, Union Station and Judiciary Square Metrorail stations. If possible, people should avoid transferring from one line to another at the Metro Center, Gallery Pl-Chinatown and L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations to cut down on their travel time. To avoid excess crowding at the Smithsonian and Federal Triangle Metrorail stations, customers may wish to walk a few extra blocks to avoid transferring or to use the following stations:

Rail Line (End of Line Station)

Suggested station to exit to get to The Mall

Shady Grove (Red Line)

Farragut North or Metro Center

Glenmont (Red Line)

Union Station, Judiciary Square or Gallery Pl-Chinatown

Vienna (Orange Line)

Foggy Bottom-GWU, Farragut West or McPherson Square

New Carrollton (Orange Line) Largo Town Center (Blue Line)

Capitol South, Federal SW, or L’Enfant Plaza

Greenbelt (Green Line)

Gallery Pl-Chinatown

Branch Avenue (Green Line)

L’Enfant Plaza

Franconia Springfield (Blue Line) or Huntington (Yellow Line)

Arlington Cemetery (Blue Line) or L’Enfant Plaza

Due to anticipated crowds, the Smithsonian Metrorail station will be designated as exit-only from 6 p.m. until the start of the fireworks, and entry-only from approximately 9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Metrobus Service

Metrobus will operate on a Saturday schedule. However, due to street closures near the National Mall and various locations throughout the region, the following Metrobus routes will be detoured: 13, 32, 34, 36, 52, 54, 64, 70, A42, A46, A48, P6, S2, S4, V8, D6, and F4. The 4H, 7A, 13G, 16B, 16E, 16G, 16J, 16K lines will be detoured near the Pentagon and Rosslyn Metrorail stations but will have access to the stations. For more information on the specific detours, please check Metro’s Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com

As a result of the many bus detours, Next Bus, Metro’s automated bus arrival information service is not able to reflect the changes in July 4 bus service.

MetroAccess Service

MetroAccess will operate its regular schedule, but with limited, if any, door-to-door service, particularly in the downtown core. Customers should expect major delays throughout the service area. To the extent allowable by road closures, MetroAccess will provide regular service after the fireworks. Customers planning to attend July 4th events on the National Mall and in the downtown area should expect traffic congestion and delays.

Security and Customer Assistance

Metro Transit Police, the National Park Police and several other police agencies will assist Metro Transit Police on July 4.

“We are taking precautionary measures to allow our customers to use our system without incident,” said Metro Transit Police Chief Michael Taborn. “Our customers are likely to see members of our special response teams of officers carrying additional weaponry with a canine accompanying them.”

Customers are encouraged to report any suspicious behavior, unusual activity or unattended items to a uniformed Metro employee, police officer, or by calling the Metro Transit Police at 202-962-2121.

In addition to the Metro Transit Police, more than 60 Metro staff has volunteered to provide additional customer assistance for those who may be unfamiliar with using the Metrorail system.

Travel tips

Metrorail riders should purchase either a One-Day Pass, or be sure to have enough fare value on their SmarTrip cards or farecards to make a round trip so as not to have to stand in line to add fare more than once. Each passenger must have his/her own fare card, SmarTrip card or One-Day Pass.

Customers can expect many rail station escalators will be turned off to help meter large crowds for safety.

Metrorail station restrooms will be open on July 4 with the exception of the Pentagon, Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood, Congress Heights, Addison Road-Seat Pleasant, Anacostia and Navy Yard Metrorail stations. Bicycles will not be permitted in the Metrorail system on July 4th.

Parents attending July 4 events with their children are advised to have each child carry identification which includes the child's name, parent's name, address and telephone numbers to assist with reuniting parents and children if they become separated.

July 4 Trip History

Year

Rail Trips Taken

Day

2008

598,898

Friday

2007

499,341

Wednesday

2006

451,623

Tuesday

2005

541,101

Monday

2004

363,280

Sunday

Media contact for this news release: Steven Taubenkibel or Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.For all other inquiries, please call customer service at 202-637-7000.